McAUSLAN, GORDON (1913-1996)

"Vase, Fruit & Evening" (1952) 
mixed media
28 x 35cm
signed lower right
*private collection, Sydney
 
McAuslan is a forgotten New Zealand Modernist. He was a cartoonist, illustrator, painter, sculptor, ceramic artist and teacher. Born in Riverton, New Zealand, he studied commercial art by correspondence while at high school in Balclutha (NZ) in 1930-35. McAuslan edited, wrote and illustrated with hand-printed linocuts "The Cartoonist" magazine in the mid 1930s. He came to Sydney in 1936 and attended evening classes at East Sydney Technical College while working on the staff of "Man" as an illustrator and cartoonist (from 1937). He drew futuristic cartoons for "Man", eg “Aw rats, Aunt… Pop said he found us in an air pocket” [robot kids to robot aunt] June 1937, 10. McAuslan served overseas as a corporal draughtsman in army intelligence from 1941-46. After a study tour of Europe he studied pottery at Edinburgh Art College 1947-49, returned to NZ and taught at King Edward Technical College, Dunedin 1949-51. Then he went back to Sydney where he taught part-time at East Sydney Technical College and at Sydney Grammar School, 1951-76. He retired to devote himself full-time to painting and sculpture. He was a member NSW Contemporary Art Society. In 1982-83 he produced a series of small stone carvings. McAuslan is represented in several important institutions, including the National Gallery Of Victoria, Art Gallery Of NSW & Auckland City Gallery!!

This brilliant, original gouache was exhibited at Bissietta Gallery in Sydney in 1955.